24 FEBRUARY 1849, Page 7

Win _Metropolis.

At a Court of Aldermen, held on Tuesday, some facts mentioned in the Sheriff's prison returns formed the topic of conversation. Sir George Grey had ordered some convicts to be removed from Newgate to the Penitentiary at Millbank: the convicts had been removed, and the Governor of the Penitentiary had taken them into his establishment; but he had on the day after receiving them sent them back to Newgate, without any order from the Home Secretary, on the ground that they were not in a fit state to be received by him. The Sheriffs were in much doubt whether the pri- soners were legally in their custody, and whether they would be liable for the consequences of their escape. The Recorder stated that the question was difficult and doubtful: it was resolved that the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, and Town-Clerk, should request an interview with Sir George Grey on the subject.

A commencement was made on Wednesday in the removing of all the houses standing between Budge Row and the old Churchyard of St. Za- chary, for the purpose of forming the new line of street from Walbrook to St. Paul's. The whole of the houses between Turnwheel Lane and Dow- gate have been razed.

The Court of Queen's Bench was occupied two days of last week, at Westmin- ster, in the trial of five persons of respectable station for selling an Indian cadet- ship; a transaction injurious in point of public policy, and made criminal by seve- ral stringent acts of Parliament. The prosecutors were the East India Company; the prisoners were Mr. Kendal, Mrs. Bmckes, Mrs. Linley, Mr. Biekley, and Mr. William Moore. Mr. Moore pleaded "Guilty," and gave a history of the whole affair. Mr. Moore is a shipowner at Plymouth. In 1845, he had a son desirous of entering the Company's military service. A friend of Mr. Moore induced him to come to town, and introduced hint to Mrs. Linley, as a person who could pro- cure a cadetship. Mrs. Linley brought in Mr. Kendal, a man of position among the railway directors of 1845, who now acted as Mrs. Linley's business adviser: he said the place could be got—a high lady would get it, a lady who was a cousin of the Queen; but 1,000/. would be needed. Mr. Moore agreed, and deposited the halves of two 500/. notes with Mrs. Linley. The "high lady" came to Mrs. Linley's, in the shape of Mrs. Binckes; who alighted from a carriage escorted by Mr. Kendal. She represented herself as the cousin of the Queen, and the mate friend of Lord Ripos, then President of the Board of Control. Something made Mr. Moore suspicious, and he would go no further ; so he stopped payment of his notes: his half-notes were returned to him, minus 1001., which he con- sented to lose: he put his son to a stock-broker, and went home. Before he had been long at home, a letter came front Mrs. Binckes, which induced him to come again to town and reopen negotiations. A "nomination" by Lord Ripon was ob tamed; and Mr. Moore's son was duly appointed a cadet, went to India, and died there. On his appointment, both father and son took the usual oaths that no money had been paid or would be paid on account of it. The sum of 8001. was paid to Mrs. Binckes and Mr. Kendal ; and was received by them through a 50- licitor named Bickley, who, as to subterfuge, prepared a paper which pretended that the money was only an advance on loan. A sum of 5u1, was paid to Mrs. Linley, and 150/. to Mr. Lavers, the friend who introduced Mr. Moore to Mrs. Linley : but Mr. Lavers was not prosecuted. The influence by which the Earl of Ripon's nomination was obtained appears from his Lordship's evidence— The Earl of Ripon examined—" In 1845 I was President of the Board of Control, and had, as such, the distribution of certain allotted patronage. The appointment of Mr. Moore was on my nomination. I knew personally nothing of him or his family. Shad known Mrs. Binckes personally only from 1845. 1 can't say that my family was under obligations to her. She was not an Intimate friend of mine. Lady Ripon applied to me for this nomination. Mrs. Binckes had applied to her for it. Lady Ripon Is not suffi- ciently well to attend here today." Cross-examined by Mr. Cockburn—" If this trial had been postponed, I very mach doubt if Lady Ripon could have attended ; her state of health is such that she is never certain of being able to come out for two days together. The nomination to some ca- detships Is given to the Board of Control, who nominate, and the Directors appoint. The Board of Control have these nominations by courtesy, and not of right. The Directors are not bound to send them." Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Wilkins—" Lady Ripon has known Mrs. einekes since the year 1843." Soon after the appointment was made, the East India Company got some un- derstanding of the irregular mode in which it was obtained, and appointed a secret committee to investigate the matter. The investigations were pursued with Ve- netian perseverance and secrecy till they unravelled the whole transaction. The indictment consisted of some twenty counts, laying the offence in various ways suited to meet possible variations in the evidence as final shape should be given to it under the ordeal of cross-examination. All the prisoners were found guilty of conspiring to sell an office in the East India Company's service, contrary to the statute.

In the Court of Arches on Saturday, Sir Herbert Jenner Fast decided the case of Gorham versus the Bishop of Exeter. He determined that the Bishop was at liberty to proceed with the examination of Mr. Gorham after the twelay-aight days. Mr. Gorham had nothing to do with the rights of the patron: those n Itts were for the determination of another court if it were to protect them. Mr.

toor- ham could not therefore be instituted in his living, and his petition must be over- ruled.

The Court of Excise has inflicted a penalty of 1,000/. on John and William Shearman, for illegally malting. The discovery of the malting premises TM made at Hackney a short time back, by an exciseman who chanced to live ant door to the place.